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New Video at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party- Clint from Smoke in Da Eye Competition team. John Markus answers questions about the next season of BBQ Pitmasters . Make sure to check out the Smoke in Da Eye Blog as well.

Kevin Roberts is an executive chef, cookbook author, sports bar owner, and radio & tv personality. Here is his bio from his website Munchies TV He also goes by the nickname “the Food Dude”

Recently he was on the Today show introducing him as the new host of TLC BBQ Pitmasters and his segment certainly elicited a variety of responses. The vast majority of those being unflattering. Between the incessant mustard shots and the advice to boil your ribs in beer it certainly made for cringe worthy TV in the eyes of many bbq’ers who vehemently oppose boiling ribs (I am in this group). He definitely got people talking on BBQ forums and foodie websites.

Overall until the show airs we will all have to wait and see how he fares as the new host with the new format. I would not dismiss him right now. The show I believe is being changed to appeal to a wider variety of audience. Not just competition BBQ’ers and our focus on the 4 main meats (brisket, ribs, chicken, pork butt) but more to the general public. Obviously there had to be changes to the format. They averaged 900,000 viewers by all accounts that I have read against some tough other shows. The ratings must increase. How they get there remains to be seen. I wish the show and the future teams appearing on the show all the very best. My hope is that once again we see an increase in people coming out to the competitions and more people joining up to the various sanctioning bodies all over North America.

Heres the new ad for the Daytona PITMasters Series.
We will be in Michigan for sure its so easy to get to and really not far at all. Going through the border is so much easier than most people realize. Looking forward to seeing our neighbours to the South!

Gotta love this. I got a shout out on another teams Pitmasters tape. I thank them for that. Very cool!!! Hope they make it on the show. Good people. Great BBQ’ers!!! Paul Huff & Mike Galasso (** Also best of luck to Fat Angel they are an awesome team as well!!! ***)

If you are in their area give them a shout for all your BBQ catering needs!!

I figure its only right to finally post my own BBQ Pitmaster audition tape. No matter what I am happy that I submitted it and took a chance to be on the BBQ Pitmasters show. Since the beginning of the series I made no secret that I want to be on the show. I think TV needs more BBQ shows. It has only been good for all facets of BBQ from restaurants to products and all competitions. I think they need a Canadian Chick that knows how to BBQ.

The grill geeks Jason Day and Aaron Chronister became friends over the flames of the grill – they have been teammates on the award winning competitive BBQ team, Burnt Finger BBQ for years. Barbecuing and competing together, they realized they were a match made in hog heaven.

I have had the chance to review the book and it covers so much. The cover with its shot of a Bacon Explosion will get your mouth watering. It only gets better and better. While I believe that there could have been more pictures the content is solid.

Something that is really unique is a section that states that included with the book is a password necessary for accessing the members only area of the companion website run by the authors. BBQAddicts.com is full of additional recipes and ideas that coincide with the recipes and information within the book. (my password was on page 223) Thats even more value for the price of the book!

I also appreciate the beer and wine pairing recommendations with many of the recipes. Its a great idea.

Here are the Chapters in the book:

Chapter 1- Equipment Methods and Techniques

Chapter 2- Bacon

Chapter 3- Parties and Tailgates

Chapter 4- Burger Heaven

Chapter 5- Fatties for every occasion

Chapter 6- The Liquor Shelf

Chapter 7- International Barbecue

Chapter 8- Leftovers

Chapter 9- Wives Girlfriends and mistresses

Chapter 10-Desserts

There are lots of recipes and fun anecdotes to review. What a great book to own or to give as a gift. I HIGHLY recommend this book for the recipes. It is not just some glossy book that will sit on the shelf and look pretty. The recipes are clear easy to understand and adaptable to any grill.

A while back I had the opportunity to interview Jason about the book and the whole phenomenon that is the Bacon Explosion:

Ill be posting that interview on the day the book is available for sale in May. It was a great interview.

1st Place Brisket – American Royal International Invitational – 2009
2nd place Brisket – American Royal Invitational-2009
2nd place Brisket – Great American BBQ Invitational-2009
3rd place Pork – American Royal Invitational-2009
4th place Pork -American Royal Open-2009
1st Place Pork – American Royal International Invitational – 2008
1st Place Pork – Great American BBQ Open – 2008
1st place Pork – Jack Daniels World Championship-2008

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Ontario Gas BBQ’s Media Day. Ontario Gas BBQ is one of my all time favorite places in the world. They have so much stuff. So many BBQ’s. I have to show extreme self restraint every time I go. I want to buy everything. They also are the largest BBQ store in the world. Unfortunately the day was cold and wet. Ugh. But the grills never stopped the beer was flowing and the media were all about….

Their BBQ showrooms are incredible. They carry everything you can imagine and more….

So many BBQ’s ……………….

There was a great selection of BBQ Companies there to demo their products and to provide tastings..Traeger’s menu for the day was ABT’s Grilled Asparagus with a curry aioli, and hot & fiery chili dipping sauce, pulled pork sliders, Bacon Bombs (Ill be posting about those next week!!) and of course a little bit of chocolate heaven. All done on Traeger BBQ’s